Complementing Theory with Medicine |
Shadowing
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Personal Experiences:
Cox South Urgent Care:
Description: I shadowed Dr. Musselman-Haas on three different occasions during the late-night shifts in Cox hospital’s urgent care. Due to the nature of the urgent care, I got to see diverse cases including many respiratory, skin rashes, abdominal and gastrointestinal, and mental health complications. Her approach to medicine impacted me as she was quickly able to walk in, connect, and diagnose her patients with a respectful, yet, light, joking manner all within a short period of time. One particular component of urgent care medicine I liked was the puzzle nature of it. The patient would offer several symptoms, and I would run through possibilities in my head like putting together the pieces of a puzzle. After meeting with each patient, Dr. Musselman-Haas would ask my and give me feedback.
Favorite Moment: When a family came in that spoke Spanish, but very little English, Dr. Musselman-Haas ordered an online translator to assist. Despite the translator’s help, it was clear that the physician struggled with comprehending the family’s concern with their two year-old son. However, as an individual that wants to work with Spanish-speaking populations and has practiced the Spanish language since age five, it made me excited and determined there was a need for my passion in healthcare.
SSM Lake Saint Louis Emergency Room:
Description: I shadowed Dr. Justin Rapoff, an ER physician at SSM Lake Saint Louis. I saw cases of gastrointestinal complications like constipation and appendicitis, skin conditions like abscess, respiratory illnesses like pneumonia, a stroke patient, and trauma cases. Dr. Rapoff allowed me to assist him in listening to the lungs of the respiratory patients and heart of the stroke patient. In addition, as he was charting notes, he would answer my questions concerning his treatment choices and diagnosis.
Favorite moment: Beyond the fast pace and arbitrary nature of emergency medicine, which was invigorating, the most interesting case was a patient with extreme intestinal complications causing her severe pain. After explaining that her case was too complex for the resources at SSM and would require a more advanced hospital, she broke down in tears saying that she was tired of all the operations and craved normalcy. In that moment, when the physician gave her a hug for comfort and told her that everything was going to be alright, I knew that despite the trauma Dr. Rapoff witnessed every day, he did not distance himself from the personal element of medicine.
Psychiatry Shadowing at St.Louis Behavioral Mental Health:
Description: After being interested in psychiatry for a number of years, I reached out to two psychiatrists to see the diversity of demographics in the field. Dr. Loth specialized in pediatric psychiatry while Dr. McKean specialized in women’s mental health including issues like pregnancy, fertility, and motherhood. With Dr. Loth, I saw cases of ADHD, anxiety,
oppositional defiant/conduct disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and elimination disorders. As I was taking abnormal psychology at the time, I was able to recognize many of the symptoms and was familiar with her patient cases. Her ability to approach the child first with his/her concerns before speaking to the parents demonstrated to me, that despite her patients being young and often not entirely aware, she still respected their opinions. With Dr. McKean, she had cases of women struggling with fertility, transitioning into motherhood, postpartum depression, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Shadowing this population and seeing this underlying pain that society rarely mentions, I found myself fully engaged with this opportunity. Combined with experiences I had at Jordan Valley and women’s health, this specialty holds great appeal for me.
Favorite moment:
Description: I shadowed Dr. Musselman-Haas on three different occasions during the late-night shifts in Cox hospital’s urgent care. Due to the nature of the urgent care, I got to see diverse cases including many respiratory, skin rashes, abdominal and gastrointestinal, and mental health complications. Her approach to medicine impacted me as she was quickly able to walk in, connect, and diagnose her patients with a respectful, yet, light, joking manner all within a short period of time. One particular component of urgent care medicine I liked was the puzzle nature of it. The patient would offer several symptoms, and I would run through possibilities in my head like putting together the pieces of a puzzle. After meeting with each patient, Dr. Musselman-Haas would ask my and give me feedback.
Favorite Moment: When a family came in that spoke Spanish, but very little English, Dr. Musselman-Haas ordered an online translator to assist. Despite the translator’s help, it was clear that the physician struggled with comprehending the family’s concern with their two year-old son. However, as an individual that wants to work with Spanish-speaking populations and has practiced the Spanish language since age five, it made me excited and determined there was a need for my passion in healthcare.
SSM Lake Saint Louis Emergency Room:
Description: I shadowed Dr. Justin Rapoff, an ER physician at SSM Lake Saint Louis. I saw cases of gastrointestinal complications like constipation and appendicitis, skin conditions like abscess, respiratory illnesses like pneumonia, a stroke patient, and trauma cases. Dr. Rapoff allowed me to assist him in listening to the lungs of the respiratory patients and heart of the stroke patient. In addition, as he was charting notes, he would answer my questions concerning his treatment choices and diagnosis.
Favorite moment: Beyond the fast pace and arbitrary nature of emergency medicine, which was invigorating, the most interesting case was a patient with extreme intestinal complications causing her severe pain. After explaining that her case was too complex for the resources at SSM and would require a more advanced hospital, she broke down in tears saying that she was tired of all the operations and craved normalcy. In that moment, when the physician gave her a hug for comfort and told her that everything was going to be alright, I knew that despite the trauma Dr. Rapoff witnessed every day, he did not distance himself from the personal element of medicine.
Psychiatry Shadowing at St.Louis Behavioral Mental Health:
Description: After being interested in psychiatry for a number of years, I reached out to two psychiatrists to see the diversity of demographics in the field. Dr. Loth specialized in pediatric psychiatry while Dr. McKean specialized in women’s mental health including issues like pregnancy, fertility, and motherhood. With Dr. Loth, I saw cases of ADHD, anxiety,
oppositional defiant/conduct disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and elimination disorders. As I was taking abnormal psychology at the time, I was able to recognize many of the symptoms and was familiar with her patient cases. Her ability to approach the child first with his/her concerns before speaking to the parents demonstrated to me, that despite her patients being young and often not entirely aware, she still respected their opinions. With Dr. McKean, she had cases of women struggling with fertility, transitioning into motherhood, postpartum depression, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Shadowing this population and seeing this underlying pain that society rarely mentions, I found myself fully engaged with this opportunity. Combined with experiences I had at Jordan Valley and women’s health, this specialty holds great appeal for me.
Favorite moment:
- With Dr. Loth, her ability to treat the condition in terms of the family unit while focusing on her young patient impressed me. Being able to ensure that the patient has the physician’s support, even while the parents and family members might challenge the decision, was a powerful component in her children opening up to her.
- With Dr. McKean, the postpartum depression case struck me. Here was a woman desperate to engage with her baby, a child she loved, yet she suffered this psychological pain her husband was unable to understand. I can only imagine how being able to heal such a patient would bring great fulfillment.
Internships
Direction-Assistance and Receptionist , SSM Lake Saint Louis Hospital- 120+ Hours, October 2016 - May 2017
Teens Learning in the Community, Mercy Hospital- 70+ Hours, Summer 2017
Teenage Volunteer, Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St.Louis- 150+ hours, Summer 2017 and 2018 and winter 2019-2020
Jordan Valley Community Health Center: Springfield, Missouri- 80 hours, Spring 2019 & Fall 2019
- Greeted and directed patients and patients' family members
- Organized and accessed medical records
Teens Learning in the Community, Mercy Hospital- 70+ Hours, Summer 2017
- Position: Student volunteer working with technicians for patient care and gathering medical experience
- Worked on four floors: Cardiology, Surgery and Trauma, Neurology, and Imaging
- Assisted with patient’s vitals, bathing, feeding, EKG’s, and pulse OX’s.
- Observed MRI’s, CT scans, leech therapy, physical therapy, and feeding tube and medicine administration
- Worked with amputee, comatose, confused, disabled, or contagious patients
Teenage Volunteer, Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St.Louis- 150+ hours, Summer 2017 and 2018 and winter 2019-2020
- Position: Student volunteer working on the Neurology and Psychiatry Floor
- Neurology
- Stocked medicine supplies in patient rooms.
- Organized medical records.
- Observed vision testing for stroke patients, IV changing, and wound care
- Developed abilities to manage confused or irritated patients
- Psychiatry
- Performed activity therapy and music therapy with psychiatric patients in order to teach them an alternative way to deal with their illnesses, symptoms, and stress
- Independently utilized the standard procedure for female patient having a seizure
- Worked with individuals with bipolar, sociopathic, depressed, suicidal, schizophrenic, violent, delusion, and disoriented symptoms
- Neurology
Jordan Valley Community Health Center: Springfield, Missouri- 80 hours, Spring 2019 & Fall 2019
- Patient hostess: Assist patients
- Understanding the relationship between health predispositions and social and economic backgrounds through working with underserved populations.
- Shadow behavioral health through the approach of treating internal and mental conditions simultaneously
Research
Chemistry:
Synthesizing and testing physiological buffers:
Physics:
Designing Prototype of Robotic Arm:
Biochemistry and Male Reproductive System Physiology:
Designing A Male Birth Control Pill:
Synthesizing and testing physiological buffers:
- Understanding the physiology of pH in the human biological system through synthesizing and testing chemical buffers and their relative resistance to pH fluctuation when subjected to conditions like temperature.
- The project was an introduction to conducting research. I worked to replicate results that had already been published.
Physics:
Designing Prototype of Robotic Arm:
- Using Fusion 360, with the help of my research team, I am designing both a prototype and model of a robotic arm that will allow a woman with no upper limbs to curl her hair.
Biochemistry and Male Reproductive System Physiology:
Designing A Male Birth Control Pill:
- Using folk medicine and published academic literature, I designed a male birth control pill that would address male reproductive autonomy and the unequal burden of family planning on females.